Justine is groomed for the sultan's harem. He likes vampires but there is a reason! Find out what it is.
Here is an excerpt:
"The sultan looked pleased. “I do have a request, although your name is beautiful, I should be greatly pleased if you would accept another name; one that is more suitable to you. I wish you to take this name willingly and in the spirit it is suggested. From now on I wish you to be known as Lela, which means ‘born at night.’
I began to cry. I didn’t wish to give up my name. It was silly of me being what I was. Yet, my name was the only thing I retained from my living life. To relinquish it was difficult.
Sabba caught my eye and I saw he wished me to obey. “Very well, I said, bowing before the young ruler. “I am Lela from this moment on…”
“Good. And now I will give you something.”
I didn’t expect him to go to the balcony. When he returned, he was carrying a white flower. “This is a lotus for you. The white is for the purity of my friendship.” He put it in my hair. “Tomorrow I will give you a red lotus for it will symbolize the passion we will share…for tonight you will be mine to do with as I wish.”
Sabba caught my eye and I saw he wished me to obey. “Very well, I said, bowing before the young ruler. “I am Lela from this moment on…”
“Good. And now I will give you something.”
I didn’t expect him to go to the balcony. When he returned, he was carrying a white flower. “This is a lotus for you. The white is for the purity of my friendship.” He put it in my hair. “Tomorrow I will give you a red lotus for it will symbolize the passion we will share…for tonight you will be mine to do with as I wish.”
I didn’t know how I felt at first, although I did not betray my emotions. Gascoyne was gone—of that I was certain. I would always belong to him; there was a bond that would never come apart. Not one piece of my love would be diminished. I decided to turn myself off. Yes, I would go along with the sultan. I didn’t wish for Ramet to be punished. I felt certain Sabba could easily take out his frustration on him.
You have no heart anyway, Justine—I thought. So it will not be difficult. It will just be tolerated. Could I do it? I was certain I could.
You have no heart anyway, Justine—I thought. So it will not be difficult. It will just be tolerated. Could I do it? I was certain I could.
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